Our Supporters

The Bambisanani Partnership relies on the enormous support of a range of individuals, groups, organisations and businesses around the world. Without their unique contributions in terms of ideas, funding and prayers the partnership would not be able to achieve its ambitious aims.

Supporters will increasingly be given further opportunities to engage in partnership and whole school activities.

“Engagement with the wider world is an essential part of any outward looking and progressive school. Our Bambisanani supporters have added a new dimension to the life of St. Mary’s, they give us another perspective – this has been a tremendous development. Students and staff meet other adults in school who are not teachers – it has broken down barriers and had a very positive impact on all concerned.”

— David Geldart, founder of The Bambisanani Partnership

Our special thanks go to all the following for their ongoing support:

The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, Yeadon

The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy Great Britain is a diverse group of Roman Catholic women vowed to serve people in need, with a special concern for women and children. The Institute is one of three strands of the Mercy family in Great Britain. Currently there are two hundred and twenty seven Sisters ministering from forty nine sites in Britain, South Sudan, Ireland, Kenya, Peru, and Romania. The Yeadon Convent is the administrative centre of the Congregation.

Cardinal Maritime

Cardinal Maritime is one of the world’s fastest growing global consolidators. Based in UK and global. Our Bambisanani Enterprises pupil group has benefited greatly from working with the CEO Andrew Smithurst. In 2012, Chris Crowther, a staff member from the company joined our visit to Africa.

"I would like to thank the St. Mary’s staff and students for being so welcoming to me when I joined the team to go to South Africa. It was very much a team, or even a large family, and I was made to feel part of it. I had an amazing experience in South Africa learning about a different culture. I enjoyed every minute of the visit and feel that the partnership between St. Mary’s and Mnyakanya School is providing remarkable opportunities to develop new attitudes and life skills. I can see that for many students, from both countries, the experience really is life changing. I am so grateful for the opportunity St. Mary’s and my employers, Cardinal Maritime have given me. I have become a better person through this experience. The work of the Bambisanani Partnership is so valuable.”

Chris Crowther, from Cardinal Maritime who was part of the team on the July 2012 visit

Lupton Fawcett Denison Till

Lupton Fawcett Denison Till are a well-established integrated commercial law firm with offices in Leeds, Sheffield and York. They have been practising law for over 100 years.

The Directors and staff of Lupton Fawcett Denison Till recognise the important role they play as people, within their business, the community and the environment. They adopt an approach that promotes corporate social responsibility.

They carry out many activities to support charities, local businesses and communities. In doing so, they aim to promote the wellbeing of others and use their position to assist the wider community.

"The firm is a major sponsor of this Partnership and I personally have felt drawn to the disadvantages faced by the students at Mnyakanya both from an educational point of view and their lack of understanding with regard to the gravity of HIV. Helping bring awareness to our children, through sport, means that they think more about the difficulties those children in South Africa face every single day rather than facing the dilemma of what clothes to wear and what reality TV programme to watch. There is so much more to be said about this partnership than can be encapsulated in a few words. It is humbling to be able to help, just a little, and I and the firm, will continue our support to its next stage and hopefully through educating other English and South African schools as to the wonders and benefits of collaboration."Kevin Emsley, Chairman of Lupton Fawcett Denison Till

Turbine Efficency

Operating on a global scale, Turbine Efficiency has developed relationships with some of the largest blue chip names across a variety of sectors. They currently provide state-of-the-art extension, maintenance and rejuvenative services for industrial Gas Turbine and Power Package owners, as well as those without power, whom search to source generative or logistical solutions.

"Our ethical principles and diverse approach to our markets, drives us to cultivate our Corporate Social Responsibilities, all the while realising the support for development where and when it is needed. Just as the Bambisanani Partnership recognises excellence through the integration of sport and educational studies."

Quarmby Colour

Quarmby Colour are a family run large format printers in Leeds. As well as working with global brands such as Audi, Adidas, Formula 1, the BBC and Manchester United they also collaborate with St. Mary's Menston, and have generously supported our Power of Sport Exhibition in school by supplying the 15 canvases at 'cost price'. It has greatly benefited the Bambisanani Partnership to have the support of one of the UK's most advanced printing firms.

The Quarmby family knows all about the 'power of sport' because of Olympic swimmer Doris Storey who competed in the Munich Olympics.

HSBC

The term 'sustainability' for HSBC is about running their business for the long term. It is about investing in customer relationships; ensuring that their governance is robust. Their approach allows them to contribute to socio-economic development and environmental protection in a number of ways.

Through their day-to-day business activities they support individuals and organisations in achieving their financial goals; providing employment for around 300,000 people; and they invest directly in communities, through their education and environment programmes.

At HSBC Sustainability teams work at a global, regional and country level to shape the bank's approach to managing environmental and social risk, community investment programmes, new business opportunities in the emerging 'climate business' sector and the companies' own footprint.

Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate

Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate are a unique Yorkshire family business with a real passion for making life’s everyday treats even better. They bake handmade bread, create beautiful cakes, blend proper tea, roast delicious coffee, and deliver outstanding customer service.

They are still owned by Frederick Belmont's family, now into the fourth generation of shareholders. The family are committed to family ownership for the long term and ensuring that the business continues to grow in a way that respects the planet and communities in which they work.

BR Pharmaceuticals

As an established business with over 50 years of sales and marketing experience, BR Pharmaceuticals is fast becoming a world leading provider of high quality personal care products.

BR is a keen supporter of both corporate and environmental responsibility and adopts every opportunity to minimise the impact of its business on the environment. The Company’s Social Responsibility Charter is strong with links and regular donations to its chosen Charity, Oxfam. BR has also worked closely with the Bambisanani Partnership, supporting St. Mary's work in one of South Africa's poorest regions, devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The Youth Sport Trust

The Youth Sport Trust is an independent charity devoted to changing young people's lives through sport. Established in 1994, they are passionate about helping all young people to achieve their full potential in life by delivering high quality physical education and sport opportunities.

Using the power of PE and sport in an international context, the Youth Sport Trust strives to increase the opportunities that all young people have to learn through PE and sport and to realise their potential in a global society. They foster international relationships to enhance and extend the quality and breadth of development work in PE and sport: creating international opportunities for young people, seeking best practice to transform school sport and gaining enhanced international understanding.

British Council

The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide.

They are on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries bringing international opportunity to life, every day. Each year they work with millions of people, connecting them with the United Kingdom, sharing cultures and the UK’s most attractive assets: English, the Arts, Education and our ways of living and organising society. They have over 75 years experience of doing this.

All over the world, people want greater educational opportunities to enhance their lives and employment prospects. In a globalised world, their focus in education is on bringing an international dimension to schools, technical colleges and universities and on raising educational standards by sharing the UK's expertise.

Rotary Club of Aireborough

In addition to their longstanding support for the Bambisanani Partnership, the Rotary Club of Aireborough carries out considerable International and Educational work. For example, the Mwanza project at Ukerewe, Tanzania, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, the Technology Tournament, Community Service Prizes, Mercy Ships, Sight Savers, Water Aid and Hope for Homes.

Rotary Club of Eshowe

Chartered in 1959, Rotary Club of Eshowe are involved in some outstanding community based projects, such as the Eshowe Community Action Group that provides funding to over 3,500 Zulu classrooms in the KwaZulu-Natal area. Over 150,000 children use these classrooms daily. Over £20 million worth of classrooms and school facilities have been constructed.

They are now in the process of providing sanitation and water to many schools through the Rotary International Matching grant project.

International Leeds

Leeds is widely known as a multi-cultural, European city, strengthening overseas links and creating a wider international role through its businesses, the arts, leisure and tourism.

The International Leeds Initiative represents a wide range of organisations across the city, including the council, business, educational establishments, health services, voluntary sector organisations and regional groups. It acts as a partnership forum for European and international activity in the city.

As a cultured attacking midfield player, he won the FA Cup twice with West Ham United and was capped forty seven times for England, scoring 5 times. In his illustrious career at the very highest level, he was never once booked.

Sir Trevor went on to have a highly successful broadcasting career with the BBC as a commentator, analyst and presenter.

He chaired the Sport England Lottery Panel from 1998-1999 and was Chairman of Sport England from 1999-2002. For his outstanding services to sport, Sir Trevor was awarded the MBE in 1981, CBE in 1999 and was knighted in 2004.

Sir Trevor is no stranger to St. Mary’s Menston; he presented the prestigious Jamie Payne-Ross Award in 1996 and formally opened the floodlit Artifical Turf Pitch in March 2011.

“St. Mary’s is an outstanding Sports College which is using sport in a variety of ways to realise wider educational aims and improve the quality of people’s lives. The school’s work in South Africa is an exceptional example of this. I am delighted to support this remarkable initiative.”

Sir Trevor Brooking

The Diana Award

The Diana Award is a lasting legacy to Princess Diana's belief in the power of young people to change the world.

They were founded in 1999 by the UK Government to act as a lasting legacy to Princess Diana’s belief in the power of young people to change the world. So far they have given 36,000 young people from across the UK special recognition through their award schemes. Their awards encourage exceptional young people to continue building a better society for all.

Their vision is to promote a culture that celebrates young people from all sections of society who have made a selfless contribution to their community. By recognising this amazing work, they support and encourage young people to continue changing their communities for the better.

“The Bambisanani Partnership is an outstanding project and the young people from St. Mary’s are exceptional role models: highly motivated, selfless and prepared to make a difference in the most difficult of circumstances. Their work in South Africa is inspirational and perfectly reflects the values of the International Diana Award.”Maggie Turner, Chief Executive of the Diana Award

The Co-op

The Co-op is the UK’s largest mutual business, owned not by private shareholders but by over six million consumers. It is the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer, the leading convenience store operator and a major financial services provider, operating The Co-operative Bank, Britannia and The Co-operative Insurance. Among its other businesses are the number one funeral services provider and Britain’s largest farming operation. As well as having clear financial and operational objectives, the Group has also set out its social and sustainability goals in its groundbreaking Ethical Plan, which specifies almost 50 commitments in these areas. The Group operates 3,750 retail outlets, employs more than 70,000 people and has an annual turnover of more than £13bn.

The Co-op encourages new ideas to tackle issues that are important to their members – from helping the community to change the world.

Otley Lions

Otley Lions is a service organisation formed by members of the community who wish to give of their time to raise funds and work for the betterment of others. They operate inside a friendly environment of co-operation and generally much fun is had in the name of charity.

As a part of Lions International the Otley Lions Club supports the international community by working to help conquer blindness, provide youth opportunities, respond to disasters and much more.Having a hands-on role in the community creates the fun and friendship that really encapsulates the spirit of being a Lion.

Otley Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International, the world's largest service club organisation. It is recognised worldwide for its services to the blind and visually impaired. It also provides support for young people by recognising their efforts and providing them with opportunities to learn, achieve and grow. Every pound raised by the Lions goes to charity.

Bradford City A.F.C.

Bradford City A.F.C. (also known as The Bantams) currently play in League Two. The club was founded in 1903. The club won the FA Cup in 1911, its only major honour. After relegation in 1922 from Division One, the club spent 77 years outside the top flight until promotion to the Premier League in 1999. City dramatically stayed up in their first season in the Premier League. The club's colours are claret and amber and they play their home games at Valley Parade.

Graham Chennells

South African businessman Graham Chennells is based in Eshowe. Graham has studied the Zulu culture and is actively involved in remarkable community and uplifment projects. He has been mayor of Eshowe, is a Rotarian, former sportsmen and farmer. Graham is a born and bred Zululander, Zulu linguist and has an intimate knowledge of the Zulus and the history of the region.

Coventry City FC

Coventry City Football Club compete in Football League One, the third-highest tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the Sky Blues owing to the colour of their strip, Coventry joined the Football League in 1919. Their most famous victory came in 1987 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–2 to win the FA Cup, listed by the FA as one of the twelve classic FA Cup Finals. The club was a founder member of Premier League in 1992 and spent an impressive 34 consecutive seasons in the English top flight. Coventry's 32,609 capacity Ricoh Arena was opened in 2005.

Kaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs are a 5-piece band from Leeds. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs. The name was chosen as the band were big Leeds United fans and their favourite player was Lucas Radebe, the club Captain, who had signed for Leeds United from Kaizer Chiefs.

When they were around eleven years old, Nick Hodgson, Nick Baines and Simon Rix met in the same class at St. Mary's. The group's debut album, Employment, was released in 2005 and enjoyed international success with over three million copies sold. Kaiser Chiefs' second album, Yours Truly, Angry Mob (2007), yielded "Ruby", a number one single in the United Kingdom.

“It is a brilliant job you are doing in South Africa; it would be so much easier to ignore these things. The impact on young people in both countries is amazing and we are happy to support this fantastic work.”Nick Hodgson, Kaiser Chiefs

Matthew Lewis

Matthew Lewis attended St. Mary's Menston whilst working as a film, television and stage actor. He is best known for playing Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films - the most successful series of films of all time.

Matthew has since gone on to star in a number of TV and stage productions.

In 2012 Matthew received an honorary Master of Arts degree from Leeds Metropolitan University for his contribution to the arts and charity work.

Aidan White

Leeds United and Republic of Ireland U21 football star Aidan White attended St. Mary's Menston.

He made his Leeds debut aged 16 and has gone on to become a key part of the team. Renowned for his pace, versatility and technical ability, he is already a fans favourite.

Aidan scored his first goal for Leeds United in Leeds' famous 2-1 League Cup victory against Premiership side Everton in September 2012.